In October 2005 Skills for Care launched the National Minimum Data Set for social care (NMDS-SC). The National Minimum Data Set represents a coherent approach to the collection of information that has relevance for social care employers. It aims to provide an up-to-date picture of the social care sector workforce. Data is being gathered from across the private and voluntary sectors and the available profile of the whole sector is being enriched as a result. Increasing numbers of NMDS-SC returns are expected from local authority funded care centres. 

According to Skills for Care's first NMDS briefing, over a third of all CSCI (Commission for Social Care Inspection) registered establishments nationally have now completed NMDS-SC returns. At the start of 2008 the NMDS held information on over 10,000 establishments and over 120,000 staff.  

Skills for Care has identified staff turnover as a problem in social care today; turnover is especially high in the domiciliary care workforce. On the other hand, two thirds of direct care staff (care workers and senior care workers) are working towards a relevant qualification; a promsing sign. Average hourly pay for care workers and senior care workers is very low and this is thought to account for at least a portion of the departures from social work. And although women make up 84% of the workforce the percentage of women in management is much less than this. 

Above are just a few examples of the sorts of findings that are made possible by the National Minimum Data Set. Do you feel it's time to contribute the information on your organisation and thereby help shape the big picture of what is going on in social care in the UK? If so, you can sign up today and create an account for your organisation here.